What it means
پاانداز (pâ-andâz) means a floor mat, doormat, or rug runner placed at an entrance, beside a bed, or in a hallway. The compound joins پا (pâ, foot) with انداز (andâz), the present stem of the verb انداختن (andâkhtan, to lay down or throw), giving the sense of something laid down for feet. It typically refers to a long narrow runner or a small rectangular mat rather than a full room rug, which would be called a فرش (farsh) or قالی (qâli). A پاانداز is functional and often inexpensive, intended to catch dirt at an entrance or cushion bare feet.
How to use it
- یه پاانداز جلوی در بذار (ye pâ-andâz jelo-ye dar bezâr) “Put a mat in front of the door”
- پاانداز کنار تخت خیلی نرمه (pâ-andâz-e kenâr-e takht khyli narme) “The mat beside the bed is very soft”
- پاانداز حموم رو بشور (pâ-andâz-e hammâm ro beshor) “Wash the bathroom mat”
- یادت باشه پاهاتو روی پاانداز پاک کنی (yâdat bâshe pâhâto ruye pâ-andâz pâk koni) “Remember to wipe your feet on the mat”
Cultural note
Removing shoes at the door is the standard practice in Iranian homes, which means the entry پاانداز serves a clear practical role: it catches outdoor dirt and signals the transition from outside to inside. Many Iranian households have a small stack of slippers (دمپایی, dompâyi) near the entry mat for guests to change into. The پاانداز by the bed is a separate fixture, kept for comfort on cold mornings, and is often a small decorative piece coordinated with the bedroom carpet.